There are stairs or an elevator to get up to the pub, which glows warmly with polished dark wood, antiqued doors and framed photos of Ireland and Irish history. On a recent visit the clientele ranged in age from 30s to a more senior crowd (diners seat themselves), and there were a lot of regulars who knew each other and the staff by name. Most were likely members of the Worcester Hibernarian Cultural Centre, but there wasn&rsquo;t any sense of cliques. In fact, one group of people kindly told us they had left a corner table so we could take it.

Not too long after we sat down, our waitress took our drink order and cleaned off the table. It was busy, even though it was a night without live entertainment, so service was not very fast, but it didn&rsquo;t lag. While we waited, we could watch either hockey or football on one of the two large-screen televisions. There was also Keno &mdash; and even a countdown clock until the next St. Patrick&rsquo;s Day.

The menu was only the front and back of a laminated sheet with a few specials given to us by our server. Most of it was typical pub fare, but there were some eggplant and pasta entr&eacute;es suitable for vegetarians and possibly vegans.

My husband I both ordered beer and water, along with a plate of nachos and a plate of potato skins for appetizers. Scott declared the nachos some of the best he&rsquo;d eaten with a mild but flavorful chili topping, along with lettuce, tomato, salsa and side of sour cream. There were just enough toppings to cover the chips without weighing them down or making them too soggy. The potato skins included generous amounts of potato attached to the skin and were smothered with cheddar cheese and bacon bits, served with a side of sour cream. With the skins crisp, the potato tender, the cheese gooey, and the bacon smoky and a little chewy, the textures were as excellent as the flavors.

For dinner, we both ordered corned beef Rueben sandwiches. It was grey corned beef that appeared to be hand cut and was exceptionally tender. The sauerkraut and dressing also were not heavy, but just enough to add flavor. The sandwiches were served with chips and a pickle, making a light dinner &mdash; but just the right size after the filling appetizers.

We had just a little room left for dessert, so we ordered the New England specialty of grapenut pudding. No two places ever quite make it the same, and Fiddler&rsquo;s Green took their own unique approach of a layered custard. Crushed grapenut cereal with plenty of nutmeg and allspice made a top and bottom crust for a rich custard-like pudding. It went especially well with the last sips of beer.

The good night ended even better when we saw our bill. For two alcoholic beverages, two appetizers, two dinners, and two desserts, it cost us $43.10. We left with neither our stomachs nor our wallets empty.

Slainte!

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